Portstewart Strand named UK's best Blue Flag beach

We’ve all known it for years but now it’s official - Portstewart Strand has been named the best Blue Flag beach in the UK.

The two-mile golden beach is a favourite with locals and tourists who come to enjoy the clean sand, magnificent views and unique wildlife, and is cared for by conservation charity the National Trust.

The competition was run by Holidaylettings.co.uk and twelve Blue Flag beaches from around the UK were nominated. The public were then asked to vote online for their favourite beach.

On hearing about Portstewart Strand’s nomination, beach supervisor for the National Trust, Gill McIlmoyle, rose to the challenge and rallied support from the local community and visitors.

“I was out on the beach every day asking people to vote for us. I was so proud that Portstewart Strand was the only beach in Northern Ireland to be nominated for the award and I was determined that our wonderful beach would win,” she said.

“I’m hugely grateful to the local community for their support and to all our members and visitors who took the time to vote for Portstewart Strand, ensuring a landslide victory for our beach.”

Portstewart Strand faced stiff competition from some of the most scenic beaches in the UK including Swanage in Dorset, Minnis Bay in Kent and Porthmeor in Cornwall.

However, none came close to this local gem which received a staggering 43% of the votes to secure first place and the title of Best Blue Flag Beach in the UK.

Saskia Welman, spokesperson for HolidayLettings.co.uk, said: “We picked twelve amazing Blue Flag Beaches that we felt perfectly embody everything that’s great about the British seaside. They needed to be iconic, family-friendly, and they all had a unique characteristic about them.

“We’re delighted to reveal that after running our online survey for more than three weeks, Portstewart Strand has come out on top and has been voted as the number one Blue Flag beach by our visitors.

“This amazing beach has got it all, from fine golden sand that is perfect to build sand castles, to ancient dunes that make it a much-loved spot for walkers throughout the year. It’s also popular for surfing and other water sports.”

The Strand, which receives around 150,000 visitors a year, is managed by a team of staff and volunteers from the National Trust who work tirelessly to ensure it retains its natural beauty and remains an important wildlife sanctuary.

The beach is one of only 10 Blue Flag beaches in Northern Ireland and is unusual in that cars can park on the sand in a defined zone, with walkers having free access to the rest of the Strand.

Behind the beach lies an impressive 6,000-year-old sand dune system, accessed through waymarked trails, where a rich biodiversity of plants and animals co-exist.

“My staff and I get regular compliments from visitors on how well cared for the beach is,” Gill said.

“It takes a huge effort to keep this vast stretch of beach clean and well presented, especially in high season when there can be thousands of people on the strand.

“Winning this award is recognition of all the hard work that we do here. I am delighted that our beach has been named the best in the UK. For me, there really is nothing to touch it - it’s the best office in the world.”